French Bureau
Proofs, Essays and Imperforates (Part 6)

by David Lamb & Alec Jacques

1983/-- Definitive Issue

(Yv 316/24, 335/7, 346/7, 356/7, 390/1, 410/11, 436/7)

General Comments

The 1961/71 definitives were replaced in 1983 by a new series in a
single design, showing the ancient Coat of Arms of Andorra. This
Coat of Arms was formerly sited in the wall of the House of the
Valleys in Andorra la Vella, near to the left of the main entrance
door. It was moved to its present position to the right of the door
when the building was "restored" in 1963.

All values of this issue are normal postage stamps; the designation
"airmail", previously used for high values, having being abandoned.
During the course of this issue, however, the word "POSTES" was
replaced by "LA POSTE", in line with the re-designation of the French
postal service. The first two values to be affected by this change
were the 2f20 and 2f50 issued on 26th October 1991.

The designer and engraver of this issue was Cécile Guillame.

Die Proofs

Unlike earlier issues, die proofs exist for each value. They
measure 160 x 130mm, and carry a fancy embossed seal with the words
"IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES - POSTE" around the perimeter and
"CONTROLE"
at the base. The seal measures 28mm and shows a hand printing press
at its centre. As before, the number of each proof produced is
strictly controlled and is limited to 18 only. They exist in
several different colours.

It is a possibility that the 10c die was the "master value" for all
the others. A complete set of nine proofs (Yv 316/24) has been seen,
and only the 10c lacks the engraved name "GUILLAME" in the design
see illustration below:

The other eight die proofs incorporate the name of the designer
engraver and, therefore,were presumably made from the finished die
for each value. Die proofs of subsequently issued values have been
seen, however, without the name "GUILLAME", so this conclusion is
not beyond doubt.

It is a peculiarity of this issue that the name "GUILLAME" is
engraved separately on each individual die, so that each value shows
small variations in this inscription; members who do not have die
proofs can easily see this by looking at the issued stamps.

As mentioned above, the die proofs of eight of the first nine
values all have this name duly inscribed on them, the exception being
the 10c value. Die proofs are believed to exist for all subsequent
values, although full details are not at present available. Those
that have been seen - 1f90, 2f20 and 10f - all lack "GUILLAME", and it
is presumed that the other values are similar.

Check-List

(inscribed "POSTES")

5c

deep sepia

Ancient Coat of Arms

EA G

10c

slate grey

EA G

20c

slate grey

EA G

30c

slate grey

EA G

40c

slate grey

EA G

50c

green

EA G

1f

slate grey

EA G

2f

slate grey

EA G

5f

deep blue

EA G

3f

EA G

20f

EA G

10f

blue

EA G

4f

EA G

15f

EA G

1f90

black, plum

EA G

2f20

black, plum

EA G

2f10

EA G

2f30

EA G

(inscribed "LA POSTE")

2f20

EA G

2f50

EA G

2f40

EA G

2f80

EA G

Colour Trials

These do not exist for this issue as their manafacture and
distribution had ceased by 1983.

De Luxe Proofs

The usual single proofs exist for all values up to and including
the 2f20 and 2f50 issued on 26th October 1991. The booklet pair of
1987 (1f90 and 2f20) also exist in a collective proof - the number
printed is believed to be 25 examples. This is the first collective
proof of a definitive issue since that produced in l946.

In 1993 the production of épreuves de luxe ceased, and they were
transformed into "blocs gommés"

Check-List

5c, 10c, 20c, 30c, 40c, 50c, 1f, 2f, 5f

Yv 3l6/24 (9)

3f, 20f & 10f

Yv 335/37 (3)

4f & 15f

Yv 346/47 (2)

1f90 & 2f20 (booklet pair)

Yv 356/57 (2)

2f10 & 2f30

Yv 390/91 (2)

2f20 & 2f50

Yv 410/11 (2)

Collective proof
1f90 & 2f20 (booklet pair)

Yv 356/57 (1)

all the above proofs inscribed "IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES-POSTE-FRANCE"

Blocs Gommés

Bloc Gommés (see illustration) appear to
have been printed from partially-inked cylinders, and are on the same
kind of gummed paper used for the normal issued stamps. Their
method of production is thus similar to that used for the imperforate
copies, from which they would be indistinguishable if they were cut
out of the sheetlets.

The first definitive values to be produced in this way were the
2f40 and 2f80 of 1993. As shown, they bear an appropiate description
in Catalan and French, as well as the imprint "IMPRIMERIE DES
TIMBRES-POSTE-FRANCE" (type 'd' as illustrated on
page 11, Bulletin No 40
),
even though this had become known as the "ITVF" (Imprimerie des
Timbres-poste et des Valeurs Fiduciaires, France) since 1990!

Check-List

2f40 & 2f80 Yv 436/37 (2)

Imperforates

All values exist imperforate with the exception of the 1f90 and
2f20 booklet pair of 1987. They are all printed in small blocks of
four, surrounded by albino impressions as previously described (see
page 10, Bulletin No 35
).

Check-List

Yv 316/24, 335/7, 346/7, 390/1, 410/11, 436/7 (20)

NOTE:
As this issue is still current, further values will
probably be added when postal rates change.